At one time Johnny Carson "banned" him from The Tonight Show appearances after taking offense at things Grodin had said. Carson's "Carnac the Magnificent" sketches were exemplary. . With that kind of money Id have a diamond ring or three., She continues: It used to drive Audrey Wilder [wife of director Billy Wilder], who was Janets closest friend, crazy. In 1977, Grodin hosted an episode of the NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live, where the entire episode revolved around his forgetting that the show was live, and he proceeded to wreck sketches because of his failure to prepare accordingly. I never, ever, ever went on a date with Frank Sinatra, she said. Well, Grodin doesnt fit that bill. The actor's son, Nicholas, confirmed the news of his father's . Though Freddie had made about a half-million dollars a year at the height of his career, they had burned through most of their savings. Gracie was also well turned out. Janet: Jo-aann-ah! StarringBobby Quinn. Sign UpYes, I would like to receive Paste's newsletter, 2023 Paste Media Group. His Hollywood film roles of the 1980s usually saw him cast as uptight, bland, and world-weary white collar professionals, such as a psychiatrist having a nervous breakdown (The Couch Trip), a health conscious accountant (Midnight Run), an ineffectual advertising executive (Taking Care of Business), and a lonely, socially awkward nerd (The Lonely Guy). Janet made a series of phone calls to her friends, delivering the news. The first thing she showed me, as I took a seat in the slipper chair next to her bed, was a handwritten letter from Johnny Carson. His son, Nicholas, said the cause was bone marrow cancer. Grodin also made regular appearances on the Johnny Carson Show, penned a few books and even had a show on MSNBC in the 1990s where Miss Piggy appeared as a guest star! How de Cordova and Wife Died Broke and Blew Through A Fortune Jul 12 tramscorp@aol.com This is quite a fascinating tale. As for never being mentioned again or appearing on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson again, that too is an Urban Legend. A few minutes later the Deutsches butler came by to empty the ashtrays, and when he came to the one in front of Mary Benny, he held it up before her and said, Madam, would you like your roach?, I was no angel, Janet confessed. After 40 years with Janet, Gracie announced that she was retiring to her hometown, San Luis Potos, Mexico, where she had built a house with her savings. But his complex, discomfiting performance proved to be a masterclass in the comedy of embarrassment. Why isnt she thinking about tomorrow? The next day she received me in her bedroom, propped up on her Porthault-covered pillows, in a silk nightgown. The house was lit, always. Carson was a fixture to two generations of boob-tube Americans. If an ice bucket on the bar was one centimeter out of place, she would veer over, pass by, touch it back into place, and say something to Gracie or one of the other girls who worked thereI think there were always three girls, Gracie and two under her. Anne Douglas, the wife of Kirk Douglas, recalls, The dinners at that house were things of beauty. . Share this with your friends via: JOHNNY CARSON INTERVIEW CHARLES GRODIN. were johnny carson and charles grodin friends. . Then she stubbed it out in an ashtray. My idol was Jean Harlow. When Freddies mother died, Janet persuaded him to leave the Blackburn duplex, and she found a glamorous house in Trousdale, then the height of contemporary, flat-roofed chic in Beverly Hills. At nine oclock the draperies would openvery special draperies, made from the heart of ostrich feathers, put on a loom, and woven into the fabric. Actor Charles Grodin, whose comic characters were almost always hapless, and . He took Freddie off the floor, and he was never allowed back on. He even brings a lawyer out with him to emphasize the legal threat. She did everything. marjorie rubin harris / spectrum channel guide birmingham, al / were johnny carson and charles grodin friends. He played a veteran documentary maker in the comedy While Were Young (2014) starring Ben Stiller (who had played Grodins role in a remake of The Heartbreak Kid). That was July 1991, so what happened next was Johnny exploded in the after-show meeting in his office. This is FRESH AIR. "[18] Sandra Brennan at Rovi noted that: "Whereas many funnymen have been popular for their ability to overreact and mug their way around everyday obstacles, Grodin belonged, from the beginning, to the Bob Newhart school of wry comedy that values understatement and subtlety. Charles Grodin, the droll, offbeat actor and writer who scored as a caddish newlywed in "The Heartbreak Kid" and later had roles ranging from Robert De Niro's counterpart in the comic thriller "Midnight Run" to the bedeviled father in the "Beethoven" comedies, has died. The sponsor AT&T removed its name from the programme and it became one of the lowest-rated entertainment specials in TV history. [4][5] His paternal grandfather had changed the family name from Grodinsky to Grodin. Grodin never breaks his stone-faced routine, and repeatedly mocks Carson for a weak joke from that nights monologue. But Janet became very prominent with them, very active. According to George Schlatter, Janet went back and forth, pitching the Republican social group to the Hollywood group, helping to bring the two together. [21] After a supporting role in the acclaimed Ivan Reitman comedy Dave, Grodin signed on to play The Old He continued in this vein for years, transferring his act to Late Night with David Letterman, where he would usually begin by ignoring the presenter before taunting him. He knew it would be a circus if he came, and so did I. He had also made a bad investment once on the advice of Alfred Bloomingdale, who was his best friend from when they worked for the Shuberts [the Broadway producers] in New York. Trump avoided . A master of deadpan, Pittsburgh native Grodin starred in . [17] Grodin subsequently appeared in several films during the decade, including the 1976 version of King Kong, the hit 1978 comedy Heaven Can Wait, and Albert Brooks's 1979 comedy Real Life. [32], Grodin died from multiple myeloma at his home in Wilton, Connecticut, on May 18, 2021. Who has died on this day? She always had wonderful thingsLalique, Baccaratand did wonderful things, always with Gracie behind the scenes, making sure it was the way Janet wanted it., Janet was an absolute perfectionist, says Joanna Carson, the third wife (197283) of Johnny Carson. The Bennys were at a dinner party at the Armand Deutsches. Hes also on Twitter @grmartin. Charles Grodin, actor and writer, born 21 April 1935; died 18 May 2021, Actor, writer and US television talkshow favourite known for his film roles in The Heartbreak Kid and Midnight Run, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Johnny mentioned Charlie with Donna Mills on 1984-09-26 and Charlie appeared a few more times on the show with assorted guest hosts. [29][30][31] For a period in the 2000s, Grodin gave up show business to be a stay-at-home dad to his children. All this info came from Continue Reading 32 Sponsored by PureCare Knee Protector I learned later that Fred was over there actually giving him the Wrap it up sign [to indicate that the show was running over]. It immediately turns into another contentious discussion, with Grodin once again confronting Johnny Carson about whether he actually cares about what his guests have to say. Everything with Janet had to be big and the best, says her friend Betsy Bloomingdale. One of the better known was Bedtime for Bonzo (1951) starring a chimpanzee and future President Ronald Reagan. [citation needed]. She was no longer the flawless Mrs. De of 40 years ago, but at 89 she was still very elegant. He thought it was the chic-est thing to go there, recalled Janet, who remained at Carla Ridge, despite Freddies desire that they sell the house and play out their nearly 40-year marriage together at the home. 's FX show Louie and Noah Baumbach's film While We're Young (2014). (Video) Johnny Carson's guest: Hulk hogan 1982 Certainly there are many stories of ladies who lived in the fast lane and became prominent Hollywood wives. In an interview with Deadline, Grodin talked about his relationship with C.K. At the time of their marriage, Freddie was directing Jack Bennys TV program and making good money, but not the princely sum Janet aspired to spending. He was heavyset and bald, but he had a hell of a personality. He was the author of several books, including a memoir, It Would Be So Nice If You Werent Here: My Journey Through Show-Business (1989). They were untouchables, in the words of George Schlatter, in a group of all above-the-title peoplethe Gary Coopers, the Jack Bennys, the Frank Sinatras, the Billy Wilders, the Dean Martins, the Jimmy Stewarts, the Armand Deutsches, the Lew Wassermans, the Ray Starks, the Earle Jorgensens, the Gregory Pecks, the Jules Steins., What Janet did not know as the curtain finally rang down on Freddies career was that her husband had, in effect, already confronted the end of the road with Carson. He would appear once a month, to the exclusion of all other talk shows. Many houses of immense size were then erected, adorned with columns, paintings, statues, and costly works of art. And Grodin spent several decades visiting Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show," almost always showing up with nothing to plug or being unwilling to plug it. When Janet pulled up to the house, located on a street with other large houses, she must have been surprised. Hes clearly going a little bit long with the tribute, but there are all these majestic nature shots, and Carson is talking about his sonheart-wrenching. Their chemistry, and the novelty of seeing Grodin strike tender notes, helped make the film a joy. episcopal dioceses in new york state; michael bloomberg private jet; sharon township franklin county ohio zoning map; female personal trainers near me They know exactly whom you are quoting, what you mean. His acting appearances became rarer in recent years. They used to say that Johnny was either livid or laughing, and that was about the truth. Freddie de Cordova, the executive producer of Johnny Carsons Tonight Show, and his wife, Janet, a leading local socialite sometimes referred to as the Duchess of Trousdale, were asleep in their separate bedrooms. He was 86. It's a Glorious Dayand All That, a Broadway play, and directed Lovers and Other Strangers and Thieves, also on Broadway. Who was the most frequent guest on The Tonight Show? (Video) Charles Grodin Asks Johnny if He Cares About His Guests - Carson Tonight Show (Johnny Carson) Who is Johnny Carson's favorite guest? Mrs. All her attention was directed to J.C., since he showeda coup. The following year Grodin returned to Carsons show to promote the paperback release of his biography his then-new film Takin Care of Business. Between 19792008, writing specials competed alongside, 1990s/2000s: Family films and talk show host, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here: My Journey Through Show Business, How I Get Through Life: A Wise and Witty Guide, We're Ready for You, Mr. Grodin: Behind the Scenes at Talk Shows, Movies, and Elsewhere, I Like It Better When You're Funny: Working in Television and Other Precarious Adventures, If I Only Knew Then Learning from Our Mistakes, Just When I Thought I'd Heard Everything: Humorous Observations on Life in America, "Charles Grodin, Star of 'Beethoven' and 'Heartbreak Kid,' Dies at 86", "Humanitarian always has been Charles Grodin's main role", "Charles Grodin, Deliciously Droll Actor, Dies at 86", "Charles Grodin, Pittsburgh native and star of 'Midnight Run,' dies at 86", "Playhouse provided training ground for Grodin", "HB Studio - Notable Alumni | One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC", "Charles Grodin, deadpan comic actor known for 'Midnight Run' and 'Beethoven,' dies at 86", "Charles Grodin: Beethoven and The Heartbreak Kid actor dies aged 86", "Saturday Night Live (Classic): "Charles Grodin/Paul Simon", "The Awkward, Hostile, and Absolutely Hilarious Late Night Appearances of Charles Grodin", MOVIE REVIEW: Heart and Souls: Comedy Wins a Few, Loses a Few, "The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder; Charles Grodin", "Charles Grodin on Working With Louis C.K. It got to the point where Gracie, after all those years working for Janet, was very well known to the Beverly Hills set. Hedda Hopper broke the news of their divorce, in Mexico City, in the May 6, 1949, edition of the Los Angeles Times: Janet and Meyer probably know more people and go to more parties than any other couple in town. It was mainly Hollywood. It originated as a nightly show on CNBC, replacing Tom Snyder after he left to start The Late Late Show on CBS. The Kirk Douglases had pulled strings to get him into the retirement community for members of the entertainment industry. She told me that when Janet was young she got the girls for the parties. Janet may not have seen this as procuring but simply as part of the game of getting ahead in Hollywood. Janet also had a reputation as a procurer. He next moved to New York and enrolled at the Actors Studio while working as a cab driver and security guard. His Tonight Show was a cultural phenomenon, influencing comedians to this day. Celebrated character actor Charles Grodin died Tuesday at the age of 86. To be honest, what I really miss is Nate n Als, she said, referring to the venerable Jewish delicatessen on Beverly Drive. One day, in front of her, he said, I never had a better housekeeper. I wanted to kill him. [28] His final movie was An Imperfect Murder: The Private Life of a Modern Woman, released in 2017. I had platinum hair like her, and when she died I cried. That seriously shook Janet, who for years had declared as a joke, When Gracie goes, I go, too., According to Janet, When it came to the time when I knew there would be no Gracie, I had two lovely caretakers, but I was terrified to be alone when I was losing my eyesight. Grodin won several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special in 1978 for the Paul Simon Special alongside Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, and Lily Tomlin. Im looking for warm bodies, thats all. Difficult truths about the chatshow format were drawn out in these exchanges like poison from a wound. She always said she had the best collection of Armani in Hollywood, says Alice Lassally. He also portrayed the philanthropist and defrauded investor Carl J. Shapiro in the 2016 miniseries Madoff on ABC based on the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme debacle. It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here: My Journey Through Show Business. He began to go through a pile of newspapers and the Hollywood trades, in preparation for his ritual midmorning phone call with Carson, in which they discussed the headlines that might make fodder for Carsons monologue that night. Charles Grodin spars with Johnny as he always does. People should know what a classy guy he was., In our long conversations, Janet was somewhat cold and distant about her late husband. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. There was a lot of innuendo around that he was a procurer for Howard, but nobody had to get ladies for Howard, believe me. Sean Hannity has spent three decades in radio and TV studiously avoiding guests who can effectively puncture his right-wing blather, only booking diverging viewpoints if its somebody he can comfortably steamroll in debate. Plus, Johnny jokes about Meryl Streep, Pat Sajak and Dustin Hoffman in the monologue. King performs "Let the Good Times Roll", accompanied by the Tonight Show band. They moved into Freddies apartment, on Blackburn Avenue, which was part of a duplex, with Mama in the downstairs, recalls Betsy Bloomingdale. But I think they wanted to go to all the Hollywood parties, and they needed each other for those occasions., Freddie was known to be an affable charmer in the presence of a star or a V.I.P., but with underlings he would invariably get acerbic. He had been the son of a con man during the Great Depressionthey went from first-class hotel to hotel with all their clothes on their backs. The comic thriller Midnight Run (1988) was a late highlight that came long after Grodin might have been expected to land a leading role. June 8, 2022; how old was john gotti when he died; cms cameron mckenna nabarro olswang llp contact number . His 1980s roles included Neil Simon's Seems Like Old Times (opposite Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn) and 1988's well-reviewed comedy Midnight Run, a buddy movie co-starring Robert De Niro. Leno explained how he and Letterman started out as friends. Expert Answers: Charles Grodin, the versatile actor familiar from "Same Time, Next Year" on Broadway, popular movies like "The Heartbreak Kid," "Midnight Run" and "Beethoven" . . That was the deathblow.. Category: Videos. She was pulled and waxed and peeled so much her face was like a childs face., The bond between Janet and Gracie was cemented on September 15, 1969, the day after Janets 50th birthday, when Gracie and Javier had a baby girl, Selene. Gracie, change her drink! Then Gracie would hover over her, and about 10 minutes into the conversation, she leans over Janet, inserts a handblown Murano-glass swizzle stick into Janets glass, and stirs her drink., Alcohol was not her only poison. Grodin also became worried about being replaced after seeing Hoffman near the set. He made frequent appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. There is a famous Hollywood story about them fighting, says Alice Lassally. Then the unthinkable happened. We never could figure out how she got the joints rolled, says Dani Janssen, the widow of the actor David Janssen. Much of his career was at Universal Studios, where he was known for turning out entertaining pictures quickly, even with difficult actors, and on a low budget. Grodin had a small part as Mia Farrows kindly obstetrician in the horror film Rosemarys Baby (1968). The social columnist David Patrick Columbia recounts that the Bennys daughter, Joan, told of the time back in the 1960s when marijuana had become inside-fashionable. But the real story is: where were all of Janets supposed friends when she was an old lady without her husband and needed to be saved? [8][9] He attended the University of Miami but left without graduating to pursue acting. Are you going to mention drugs?, Jolene Schlatter asks me. Accordingly, "Johnny Carson"hints at being a catharsis for its author. Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, comedy, travel, theme parks, wrestling, and anything else that gets in his way. Of course, Janet was very disturbed when she heard Javier had died, the late Dominick Dunne, a friend of Janets, told me. Perfectly nice, and she did the apartment over, but not really ideal. Janet recalled, Youd walk out the front door and see the supermarket carts at the end of the walkways. Although he stayed on for a brief period as a consultant to Jay Leno, Carsons successor, his importance in the Hollywood hierarchychief gatekeeper to the most revered man in the entertainment industry and executive producer of NBCs most profitable late-night hourwas over. All Rights Reserved. Their mansion would have to go. [10] He studied acting at HB Studio[11] in New York City under Uta Hagen. There were other comic moments shared off camera between the two friends, who happened . It was lit like important company could come through at any moment, even when there was no one on the calendar for a social call, and at the end there never was. And she got one. He cultivated a persona through which resentment and superiority were conveyed with calm understatement. Janet and her friends liked to watch the feathers fluttering in the air-conditioning. Any commercial lustre Grodin had was squandered by the failure of his follow-up, 11 Harrowhouse (1974), in which he played a jewel thief; the film was widely panned. In . Grodin had an older brother named Jack.[7]. Grodin studied acting at the University of Miami but left without graduating and won a scholarship at the Pittsburgh Playhouse School. Gracie fixed de Cordovas breakfast, then, according to a close friend of the de Cordovas, waited until after he ate to approach him, saying, Mr. Grodin's commentaries were heard on New York City radio station WCBS and other affiliates of the CBS Radio Network, as well as on the CBS Radio Network's Weekend Roundup. In the mid-1990s, Grodin retired from acting and wrote autobiographies; he became a talk show host on CNBC and in 2000 a political commentator for 60 Minutes II. That same year also saw the much-delayed release of Clifford, in which Grodin portrayed the frustrated uncle opposite Martin Short's title role. Grodin would seem urbane at first, but the joke lay in how quietly rattled and rancorous he would then become. Grodin appeared on Lettermans shows 40 times over the years, four more interviews than he did with Carson. Charles Grodin Asks Johnny if He Cares About His Guests - Carson Tonight Show - 09/05/1990#johnnycarson #thetonightshow #charlesgrodin Actor Charles Grodin, best known for his work in movies and Broadway, died on Tuesday at his home in Wilton, Conn. at age 86. [15] During the late 1960s, he also co-wrote and directed Hooray! In 2014, a sex tape of Johnny Carson started to show up and circulate in selected circles. He said, Why didnt you call us? Gracie said, I didnt want to wake you up. He would talk about his affairs with old movie stars like Joan Crawfordhe was very proud of those stories. and began the three-day drive to San Luis Potos. Her blond helmet had been freshly shellacked by her hairdresser, Yuki, for the photo shoot for this article. Our deepest condolences go out to Grodins friends, families and colleagues Join Facts Verse as we explore why Johnny Carson hated this Tonight Show guest more than anyone.. Johnny Carson was the host of The Tonight Show Starring Carson for three decades, from 1962 to 1992. Grodin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Orthodox Jewish parents,[2][3] Theodore (19001953), who owned a store that sold wholesale supplies, and Lena (19071996; ne Singer), who worked in her husband's business and volunteered for disabled veterans. Dominick Dunne added, She was known for her many marriagesthree before Freddiebut only the one with Freddie, for some reason, endured., There were, in fact, four marriages before Freddiebut to three men. She took on the problems herself and kept Janets world running smoothly., According to Dunne, In Trousdale, there is a kind of urban legend. She ran the house, and in Janet and Freddies time it was a very important house for social occasions., Janet and Freddie became the official godparents of Selene. Joanna Carson taught her how to tap-dance. Charles Grodin had to learn about life with 'Beethoven' in the 1992 film about a family man and his lovable German shepherd. Next to them was a photo of Janet, inscribed: To Gracie, All my best, Mrs. de Cordova. Janet raised her glass in a toast: To San Luis Potos! Freddie was better-liked. What are we going to do? I knew it wasnt going to happenJohnny loved that show too muchbut she always went behind Freds back to me to try to make sure it wasnt going to end when it didnt need to., The de Cordovas raison dtre, said Dominick Dunne, was to live an A-list life. Self-described as "low key but high strung," Grodin often played uptight and cranky characters who ultimately were likable. (Video) Don Rickles Attacks Everyone on Carson Tonight Show #donrickles #comedy #carson #funny (Rickles And Friends.) She and Fred never had children, and Janet adored that child, but in a strange way Gracie became like Janets mother, even after that little girl was born. Denis Boileau, est un acteur, auteur et directeur artistique franais, n le 8 dcembre 1950. He would appear once a month, to the exclusion of all other talk shows. And then his eyes start darting over to where Freddie is, and you can see a little register of annoyance. He worked with the films director, Mike Nichols, soon after on Catch-22 (1970), and became friends with the musician Art Garfunkel, one of his co-stars. Charles Grodin, the urbane actor who made his roles as a curmudgeon seem cool, died Tuesday at his home in Connecticut of bone marrow cancer. After I made Bedtime for Bonzo, there was no place for me to go in Hollywood. Freddies autobiography was called Johnny Came LatelyJanets title. If it was caviar, it had to be big caviar. She said, Joanna, for the first time in my life, I have a family. I cried more for her, but this time tears of joy.. The two men were flying together from Las Vegas to tape The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, on which Cosby was guest-hosting at the time, when Cosby mentioned that he heard Garrett does an. Janet and Freddie were among them, and they were fighting the whole time until they left. GRODIN: Well, we were very good friends off screen, and we really had a lot of laughs off . This is quite a fascinating tale. He was 86. More after a break. Then the phone would ring. shelved 1,421 times. But I had some Polaroid stock which went sky-high, so I could take care of myself., I think, at forty-something, she had stayed too long at the fair, and really needed to find someone for security, says Alice Lassally. According to Betsy Bloomingdale, Janet was an icon of that time, when certain girls had a good time,when girls had different friends well, you know what I meanlots of loversand lots of fun, in the era when people would go to El Morocco or Mocambo. Johnny Carson liked him so much that he put Grodin under contract as a guest in 1973. Grodin, who appeared in such films as Midnight Run, The Heartbreak Kid, Beethoven, The Great Muppet Caper and on TV as a favored guest of Johnny Carson and David Letterman, died today of bone. Dear Janet, I am sorry for the loss of Freddie. So I asked her, Would you like to come to Mexico with me? She said no. Janet had her own moment of infamy when senators questioned Meyer about some of his expenses, and he said that they were for Janet Thomas, a friend (secretly his wife), whom he had sent to Paris on an extended vacation so that she could avoid being called before the committee. Grodin had several supporting roles in films, including Barry Levinson's The Humbling (2014) and Taylor Hackford's The Comedian (2016). He was a walker in Hollywood for a long time., I asked Janet if she thought that either of her paramours may have been hiding a secret about his sexuality. He loved to dress people down, says Zehme. Leno paid Freddie a pittance, maybe $500 a week, Janet told me in 2009, shortly before her death, with bitterness in her voice. He was good-looking and very funny and entertaining. He was 52 at the time and beat Robin Williams to the part of the gentle mafia accountant escorted across the US by a bounty hunter played by Robert De Niro. When Janet was with me, and being reflective, recalls Alice Lassally, she noted that they had never had children. Known for his deadpan delivery and often cast as a put-upon straight man, Grodin became familiar as a supporting actor in many Hollywood comedies of the era, including Real Life (1979), Seems Like Old Times (1980), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), Ishtar (1987), Dave (1993), and Clifford (1994). Carson was never so naked on the air. Tartar steak came from Chasens, and every time someone dug into the mold it disappeared and came back perfect again. He took Freddie off the floor, and he was never allowed back on. Grodins interviews were a curmudgeonly send-up of talk show convention, mocking the fatuousness of canned stories, predictable jokes, and that weird thing where the guest and host act like old friends even when they clearly have never met before. Im doing it right now.. He both starred in and wrote the screenplay for 11 Harrowhouse (1974). When Id visit, shed be in a towel, because Yuki would be coming up and doing her hair and makeup. The show was done in New York until we moved to Burbank, in 1972.
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